PolyBase, a data virtualization feature for SQL Server, allows users to seamlessly query data from various external sources directly using T-SQL (Transact-SQL) without the need for separate client ...

With the official release of Microsoft's latest database offering, let's see what was improved and what still needs some work ...

SQL Server 2008 Integration Services ships with the wonderful new Data Profiling Task. Much as the name implies, it profiles the data in a given table and returns a ton of useful information. The task ...

Microsoft said a new Always Encrypted security feature highlights its upcoming SQL Server 2016 -- "the biggest leap forward in Microsoft's data platform history" -- shipping this summer in a public ...

Unlock the full InfoQ experience by logging in! Stay updated with your favorite authors and topics, engage with content, and download exclusive resources. This article dives into the happens-before ...

With best-in-class ease of use on the Windows platform, Microsoft SQL Server 2000 SP2 combines strong administration abilities with leading-edge XML support. Though it's still Windows-centric, ...

When it comes to improving the performance of database systems, there are nearly as many approaches as there are DBA (database administrator) teams. That might sound acceptable at first glance. But, ...

The next version of the Microsoft flagship database promises to add dynamic extensions to Azure and real time links between structured and unstructured data. The next release of Microsoft SQL Server ...

When I started out as a programmer all those years ago, I was coding in COBOL using IBM Mainframes running MVS with IMS and DB2 Databases. Those were the days! Of course, the death of COBOL has always ...